[PRpond]
Karen Lea Rathbun, Placerville, California
April 27, 1958 - September 19, 2017
Karen Lea Karstad was born on April 27th, 1958 in Madison, Wisconsin, of parents Lars and Martha Karstad. She was married to Gary Rathbun on June 13th, 1986. She passed away on September 19th, 2017 in Sacramento, CA at the age of 59.
Karen is survived by her husband Gary, of Placerville, CA; her parents, Lars and Martha, of West Kelowna, British Columbia; one sister, Aleta Karstad and husband Fred Schueler of Bishops Mills, Ontario; two brothers, Elsen Karstad and wife Amy Sandys-Lumsdaine of Nairobi, Kenya and Mark Karstad and wife Donna of Edmonton, Alberta; andnumerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Karen worked as a library clerk and a graphic artist. She was a very talented and creative person, and did many drawings and paintings in various media. She was an excellent photographer, and enjoyed sending out photo-illustrated emails of trips in scenic areas. She also enjoyed writing and editing, keeping a detailed journal of her own life, and helping her father self-publish two books.
Karen made her choice to serve God at the age of 16. She was faithful to that choice for the rest of her life, and was an example of quiet acceptance of God's will. She was not a complainer, and never expressed any resentment or feeling of self pity about the cancer that took her life. She will be greatly missed.
Services will be held on Sunday, September 24, 2017, 4:00 pm, at the Machinist Hall, 2749 Sunrise Blvd., Rancho Cordova, CA. Interment to follow at 9:00 am Monday, September 25, at Westwood Hills Memorial Park, 2720 Cold Springs Road, Placerville, CA.
Arrangements under the direction of Chapel of the Pines, Placerville, CA.
